USDA Rural Development recognizes Roscoe's

Tuesday

Jun 18, 2013 at 2:32 PM

As part of National Small Business Week, the USDA Rural Development recognized Roscoe's.

By Mark SchulmanTimes-News Staff Writer

ZIRCONIA— "This store means a lot to the community," U.S. Department of Agriculture Area Director Pam Hysong told four generations of the Green family Tuesday at the family-owned business Green's Six Oaks Mall, commonly known as Roscoe's, in Zirconia.As part of National Small Business Week, the USDA Rural Development recognized Roscoe's, a business that took 14 months to rebuild after a devastating fire on Feb. 12, 2011.USDA Rural Development provided a $400,000 Business and Industry Loan Guarantee that assisted with Roscoe's reconstruction to enable the popular store to be part of the community."This investment in (the) Green's store and partnership with Mountain 1st Bank is a fine example of the extremely successful partnership between USDA and our rural business and communities to improve economic development opportunities," Hysong said.Owner Nancy Green is grateful to see her store brought back to life. Green and her husband, Roscoe, opened the general store in 1980."It's a good feeling," she said. "We enjoy our community. We are like a family."She said Roscoe's supports the community and in return, the community supports the store."We want to provide services and goods that are hard to find in the area," Green said. "We try to give customers a little bit of everything."Local business leaders and lawmakers' representatives were also at the ceremony Tuesday. "Small business is extremely important to a neighborhood's character, as they provide many unique services and products that are vital to the community," said Bob Williford, president of the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce. "Because small-business owners typically live in the community in which they operate, they are often the first ones to support local nonprofits, little leagues and other community endeavors. In short, their heart belongs to their community."Freddie Harrill, western regional liaison for U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, said the USDA Rural Development is a blessing to businesses in small communities."Many times, they are the life blood for small businesses in Western North Carolina and across the state," Harrill said.Tate Apodaca, a field representative for U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows, said he remembers visiting Roscoe's on the way to Lake Summit."You can't go to Lake Summit and not hop over to Roscoe's for some corn fritter," Apodaca said.Gov. Pat McCrory proclaimed June 17-21 as Small Business Week in North Carolina, encouraging citizens to recognize the importance of small businesses and their owners.Reach Schulman at 828-694-7890 or mark.schulman@blueridgenow.com.